Social responsibility

For us, sustainability means more than environmental awareness - it also includes social responsibility.

Human rights

Respect for internationally recognized human rights is an integral part of our business activities and is anchored in our corporate guidelines and processes. We respect them in our business areas in accordance with the standards of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the ILO Conventions (International Labor Organization), the OECD Guidelines and the UN Guiding Principles.

It is our responsibility to identify and prevent potential and actual negative impacts on human rights along our entire value chain. We do this with the help of our ESG risk management system in the areas of working conditions, equal treatment and fair employment. In this way, we ensure that these risks are identified at an early stage and measures are taken to avoid them.

We also support our business partners and suppliers in complying with human rights standards through clear guidelines, structured procedures, regular audits and training. These include fair working conditions, protection against discrimination, the prohibition of slavery, child and forced labor as well as human trafficking and the right to freedom of association.

As Human Rights Officer, I ensure that risks to human rights and the environment in our value chains are identified early, assessed, and mitigated - in line with international standards and the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act

Frank Plümacher

EVP Health, Safety, Security, Environment and Sustainability as well as Human Rights Officer (HRO) at Uniper

Human Rights Strategy

Our approach

ESG due diligence

100% of our suppliers have undergone our ESG due diligence process.

Screening

Screening our operations and suppliers for ESG risks, including human rights risks.

Risk mitigation

Working with stakeholders to support risk mitigation measures.

Online training

Online training programs to raise employee awareness of human rights and environmental risks.

Human Rights Strategy

The Management Board oversees Uniper’s human rights strategy, supported by a Human Rights Officer who ensures implementation.

Open communication

Open communication culture to ensure employee involvement.

Reporting Human Rights Concerns

We are committed to protecting human rights across our entire value chain, including direct and indirect suppliers and individuals affected by our supply chains. We encourage employees, contractors, suppliers, and affected stakeholders to report any concerns related to human rights violations.

To support this, we offer internal and external whistleblowing channels, available to all parties—anonymously and in verbal or written form. Reports can be submitted to whistleblowing@uniper.energy or to our independent external hotline at uniper-compliance@simmons-simmons.com, operated by Simmons & Simmons. These channels are part of our broader due diligence framework aligned with the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG) and international human rights standards.

What are human rights?

Human rights are fundamental rights and freedoms that everyone is entitled to simply by virtue of being human - regardless of gender, origin, language, religion, social status or political conviction. These rights are laid down in international agreements, e.g. in the European Convention on Human Rights or in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UN, 1948). They apply worldwide and are intended to protect the dignity, freedom and equality of all people.

Compliance with human rights is a central element in the management of ESG risks. Companies with a strong sustainability strategy take human rights standards into account along their entire value chain in order to combine long-term sustainable growth and social responsibility.

Fundamental human rights

Protection against torture, forced and child labor, appropriate wages, health protection, occupational safety and freedom of association

Ensuring decent working conditions for suppliers and partners (e.g. through the Supply Chain Duty of Care Act)

Equal treatment regardless of gender, age, origin, religion or sexual orientation

Respect for local communities, especially in infrastructure projects or raw material extraction

Ensuring that sustainable energy remains affordable and accessible

Compliance with international standards such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and regular ESG reporting

Everyone is free to express their opinion publicly or privately - orally, in writing or in any other form - without fear of state or social repression

Everyone has the right to live in a healthy, clean and sustainable environment, because a degraded environment has a direct impact on health, quality of life and basic human rights such as access to clean water, air and food

Affected communities

We know that our activities at our sites impact local communities - especially those directly affected by our operations. We want to address their concerns and questions openly.

We focus on transparency and dialog and involve local communities in our planning at an early stage. We listen to their concerns and work together to develop solutions that bring sustainable benefits for both sides. We offer a wide range of opportunities for exchange, such as online webinars, personal meetings on site, special websites where feedback can also be given and contact via e-mail, telephone and post. Our whistleblower procedure also gives employees and third parties the opportunity to communicate with us and report misconduct anonymously.

We are also in constant contact with political decision-makers, the media, civil society organizations and NGOs. We regularly hold round tables with several NGOs to discuss topics such as human rights issues and environmental impact.

Why do we do all this? It is important for us to learn more about the needs, concerns and expectations regarding our company and its business activities. This enables us to integrate them and build mutual understanding and trust.

Our approach

Transparency and constructive dialog with stakeholders
Developing mutual understanding and solutions

Just Transition

The transition to a decarbonized energy supply is one of the greatest challenges of our time. For us as an energy company, it means shutting down or converting some of our power plants. This has an impact on our local stakeholders. In particular, our employees at the power plants and the people in the surrounding communities are directly affected by this transition.

We believe that no one should be left behind on the path to climate neutrality. After all, a successful energy transition requires more than just financial investment and technological progress. It also requires an equal commitment to social justice and environmental responsibility, summarized in the concept of “Just Transition”. To ensure this, Uniper has developed a “Just Transition” framework that follows a series of principles and voluntary commitments in line with the 2015 International Labor Organization (ILO) guidelines and the COP 26 agreement. The aim is to support stakeholders at the affected locations during the transition process in a timely, transparent and fair manner.

By putting people first and engaging in constructive dialog with the affected stakeholders, promoting retraining and securing employment opportunities, we are creating new prospects for a carbon-neutral future. At the same time, we want to ensure that the affected plants have a viable future and that as many jobs as possible are retained. We achieve this by converting or repurposing them for other purposes that contribute to a decarbonized world.

Our approach

A just transition based on constructive dialog and stakeholder engagement to support affected employees and communities.
Develop strategies for the sustainable operation of our sites to promote diverse, inclusive work.
Securing as many jobs as possible as we decarbonize our operations.

Our Climate Transition Plan shows how we are shaping the transformation and ensuring a just transition.

Learn more about Uniper CTP 2025

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The coal phase-out

Coal-fired power generation has no future for us at Uniper, but the sites themselves do. Uniper's coal-fired power plants are conveniently located and have useful infrastructure such as grid infrastructure equipment, rail links and connections to the district heating network. Uniper is working to repurpose these sites so that they can play a long-term role in a decarbonized economy.

Engagement in coal mining regions

Reduced demand for and production of coal will have a significant impact on employment, public revenues and the local economy in coal mining regions. Through our membership of Bettercoal, a non-profit initiative to promote a more responsible coal supply chain, we are supporting an economic diversification program in the mining region of Cesar, Colombia.